Examining the Relationship between Mindfulness, Perceived Stress, and Blood Pressure in African-American College Students.

Abstract

College students are prone to stress, making them vulnerable to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Harmful health behaviors, such as tobacco or alcohol use, further predispose students to hypertension (HTN). African-Americans (AA) experience increased blood pressure reactivity, and weathering, due to race-related stressors. This interplay makes AA college students good targets for strategies to prevent stress and HTN disease risk. This project examined the relationship between mindfulness, perceived stress and blood pressure among a group of AA college students enrolled in an HBCU healthy heart course. Participants' systolic and diastolic blood pressure averaged 122 mmHg and 76 mmHg, respectively. The Spearman correlation revealed a negative strong relationship between mindfulness and perceived stress (r_s = -0.61, p = 0.004). The coefficient of determination indicated that 37% of the variance in mindfulness was explained by perceived stress. College health practitioners should consider integrating mindfulness into course activities and expanding its treatment modality.